Kunsthalle Wien is seeking an experienced curator of exhibitions to lead its Curatorial Department and help shape its future programme.
Kunsthalle Wien
Kunsthalle Wien is the City of Vienna’s primary institution for contemporary art. At our locations in the Museumsquartier and on Karlsplatz, we present an annual programme of exhibitions and produce public and educational programming that seek to engage diverse publics. We provide a platform for artists, commissioning new works and partnering with individuals and institutions, both local and international, to develop exhibitions and publications based on original research. Kunsthalle Wien is committed to providing an inclusive space for exchange and debate and furthering the discourse on contemporary art in all its forms. For more information, please visit www.kunsthallewien.at.
Stadt Wien Kunst GmbH serves as the supporting organization and administrative umbrella for the institutions Atelierhaus Wien, Foto Arsenal Wien, Kunsthalle Wien, and Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Wien, as well as the festivals Foto Wien and Vienna Digital Cultures.
Your Role
We are looking for a Chief Curator to lead the team responsible for researching and developing our exhibitions and publications. Working closely alongside the other senior managers and together with the Artistic Director they will play a key role in the institution’s artistic and strategic development.
Core responsibilities
• Leadership of a curatorial team responsible for the delivery of Kunsthalle Wien’s programme of exhibitions, commissions and special projects
• Oversight of the editorial production of Kunsthalle Wien’s publications
• Supporting the scheduling, coordination and delivery of exhibitions
• Programme management: oversight of a varied programme including projects of different scales and at different stages of development. Assigning projects within the team, setting priorities and milestones accordingly
• Leading the curatorial team’s research and development on the programme: ensuring the timely transmission of information to other departments and the effective collaboration on projects
• Close collaboration with the Head of Production to effectively support artists at every stage of the commissioning and exhibition process
• Working closely with the Artistic Director and Educational team to translate exhibition concepts into engaging public programmes
• Working with colleagues to support fundraising and commercial activities
• Development, coordination and monitoring of schedules, budgets and reports to meet stakeholder requirements
• Supporting the Artistic Director on external partnerships, including the development of contracts and exhibition agreements
• Oversight of project documentation and evaluation
• Writing and editing of texts, supporting the Artistic Director with translation and editorial work including preparing texts for key documents, reports, exhibition dossiers, communication texts and exhibition catalogues
• Mentoring, developing competences, tools and resources within the curatorial team
• Representing the institution locally, nationally and internationally, actively participating in and contributing to Vienna’s contemporary art and cultural scene
Your profile
• A minimum of 5 years experience in commissioning artists and organising exhibitions of contemporary art, preferably within a public institution
• Experience in developing exhibition publications
• In-depth knowledge of contemporary art and 20th century art history
• Proven ability to write texts on contemporary art for a broad audience evidenced by published writing
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, management experience is an advantage
• Strong organisational skills with a proven ability to work to deadlines
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Fluency in English and at least a working knowledge of German. Other languages are an advantage
General information
Wien Kunst GmbH, a subsidiary of the City of Vienna, offers security and stability in this context. The company’s content-driven and programmatic responsibilities, along with its international orientation, make it possible to engage with current and sustainable topics while working and developing within a creative network. We offer an exciting and diverse role in a meaningful field of work.
We encourage people of all backgrounds, genders, ages, religions, and sexual orientations to apply.
Place of employment
Museumsquartier, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
Start of employment: 1 December 2025
Duration: permant
Working hours: Fulltime / 40 hours
Working time: Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work Flexible working hours model, optional home office arrangement
Salary: Annual salary € 54.400 gross including allowence (on fulltime basis) on your experience and qualification
Contact:
Mag.a Nadine Kodym
Head of Human Resources
Tel.: +43 1 521 89 255
Additional Information
Please send your application to PMC-Chefkurator*in Kunsthalle Wien until 29 September 2025
Your application should include a CV, contacts for two references and a letter outlining your skills and experience in accordance with the job description. Please state your salary expectations, availability to start and reasons for applying within the letter. Applicants are encouraged to include samples of their published writing in support of the application. All material should be compiled in one PDF document.
Interviews will be held in Vienna on Monday 20 October 2025.
We regret that any costs associated with the application cannot be reimbursed.
